At FAU
Pete Rekstis was named the Owls defensive coordinator in March 2012. Rekstis came to FAU with 18 years of experience including 15 as a defensive coordinator, including eight seasons at Mid-American Conference member Miami University and Kent State University.

His experience, along with that of Head Coach Carl Pelini, who previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Nebraska, quickly paid off for the young Owls defense which ended the season ranked No. 27 nationally in pass defense and a primary reason was the play of senior Brent Harstad who earned second team All-Sun Belt honors and concluded his career fifth in the league with 103 tackles and was the only defensive back in the league to be listed among the eight. While Harstad's game gained recognition juniors Jeremy McKnight and Keith Reaser combined for 95 tackles while freshman Cre'von LeBlanc made a splash drawing nine starts and the praise of the coaching staff with 42 tackles, one for a loss and was credited with breaking-up four passes. While the secondary played a pivotal role in the success of the defense, FAU's defense rose nearly 20 spots in the national rankings in scoring defense and was a major contributor in the Owls 35 spot improvement in national turnover margin. The Owls will return 22 guys on the defensive side of the ball, including nine starters.

Pete Rekstis was named the Owls defensive coordinator in March 2012. Rekstis came to FAU with eight years experience as the defensive coordinator at Miami University and Kent State University, both of the Mid-American Conference. He has coached for 18 seasons including 15 as a defensive coordinator.

At Miami (Ohio)In his lone season at Miami as the defensive coordinator and safety coach, Rekstis saw safety Anthony Kokal, a safety, lead the squad in tackles with 91 while Pat Hinkel, also a safety was fourth in tackles.

At Kent StateRekstis gained his first Mid-American Conference, experience at Kent State where built a reputation as an outstanding defensive mind, a great motivator, a solid recruiter and developer of talent.

While at Kent State, four defensive backs joined NFL teams. Usama Young (Saints, 3rd Round, 2007) and Jack Williams (Broncos, 4th Round, 2008) were drafted while Abe Elam (Browns) and Daniel Muir (Colts) worked their way onto a NFL team as a free agents. In 2011, defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix became the first freshman ever to win the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.

His 2010 Kent State defense was ranked No. 2 nationally in tackles for a loss (8.3), No. 5 in rushing defense (97.2), No. 11 in sacks (2.9) and No. 13 in total defense (306.7). The Golden Flash also set a school record single-season high with 35 sacks. KSU also held two 2010 opponents to negative rushing yards.

Youngstown StatePrior to Kent State, Rekstis served as the secondary coach for his alma mater Youngstown State from 1999-2003 and as the Penguins' defensive coordinator from 2001-03. His first season back, Youngstown State posted a 12-3 record and advanced to the Division I-AA championship game. During his five seasons with Youngstown the Penguins' averaged nearly 15 interceptions per season and tallied 74 in all.

Austin Peay/U.S. Coast Guard AcademyBefore returning to Youngstown State, Rekstis served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Austin Peay from 1997-98 and as defensive coordinator at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy from 1994-96.

He was a team captain, and a four-year starter at free safety at Youngstown State from 1987-90, where he played for Jim Tressel and helped the Penguins to a record of 32-16.

A native of Cleveland, Rekstis graduated from Youngstown State in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in history. He and his wife Gina have three daughters, twins Jessica and Sara, and Natalie, and a son, Pete III (Trey).